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Battle of the Atlantic Begins
-German U-boats were sent to attack ships on the eastern coast of the U.S.
-Hilter ordered the raids.
-The ships were sent to try and stop Great Britain and the Soviet Union from receiving needed war materials and food.
-While Germany seemed to have the advantage at first, the U.S. organized convoys to protect their ships. With the use of radar and sonar, the U.S. was able to destroy more U-boats than the Germans could produce. As a result, supplies were not cut off from the Allies. -
Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.
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The Battle of Stalingrad Begins
-Germany tried to take advantage of the spring weather and invade the Soviet Union.
-Hitler and the German army were responsible for the attack.
-Hitler wanted to take oil fields and invade Stalingrad.
-The Germans had almost all of the city until winter came again, where the Soviet's counterattack left them surrounded with no choice but to surrender. Because of this victory, the Soviet Union was able to move further westward into German territory. -
Operation TORCH
-There was an invasion of Axis-controlled North Africa.
-It was commanded by General Dwight D. Eisenhower and involved Allied troops.
-Britain and America were pressured by Stalin to force Hitler's troops away from the Soviet front.
-The Africa Korps surrendered, and the Allied nations gained more control in North Africa. Morale and hope were increased. -
Operation OVERLORD Begins
-The Allies invaded Normandy, France to free France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
-The task was commanded by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
-Operation OVERLORD was set to free Western Europe, and a dramatic plan was needed to do so.
-The first day of the invasion, known as D-Day, was the biggest land-sea-air operation in army history. Though German retaliation was brutal at first, a large chunk of Western Europe was freed by the Allies, giving them a better chance of ending the war. -
The Battle of the Bulge Begins
-Germany moved to cut off Allied supply lines and recapture Antwerp.
-Hitler and the German army.
-Hitler made this bold attempt hoping to regain what he had lost and break up Allied troops.
-Though the move was brave, Hitler ended up retreating after losing more soldiers, tanks, and weapons than he could replace. With Germany pushing back, Allied troops had the opportunity to close in on both fronts. -
Buchenwald is Liberated
-Death camps were liberated in Germany and Poland.
-The first to liberate camps was the Soviet army in Poland, but soon after other Allied troops followed. Buchenwald was the first Nazi camp liberated by U.S. troops.
-The operation of the concentration camps by the Nazis was immoral and needed to be stopped.
-The realization of the Nazi death camps showed many the reason that the war needed to be won, and how terrible Hitler and his plans truly were. -
Roosevelt Dies
-President Roosevelt had a stroke posing for a portrait.
-Because of this, Harry S. Truman, the vice president before Roosevelt's death, became the 33rd president of the U.S. -
V-E Day
-Victory in Europe Day; the Allies celebrate having won the war.
-The Allied nations
-Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich.
-After years of fighting, the second world war was finally over.
